Contesting 101
Tom Shelton (AB3IC) – January 2012
One of the ways you can increase your final score in any contest is to go into that contest with a
strategy. For example, the CQ WW contests have dual multipliers which are fairly easy to
obtain. Many of my contesting friends have told me they try to keep their QSO to Multiplier
ratio at or near 1:1 for these contests. That way, as the contest progresses, each contact becomes
more valuable. For November Sweepstakes, you aren’t trying to reach out to a lot of DX
stations. Rather, you are trying to work U.S. and Canadian Hams, so your “money bands” are
going to be 40 and 80 meters, overnight and into the morning. Making sure you have good wires
on those bands, and adjust your operating hours (take a long nap in the afternoon), you’ll
increase your number of QSOs and multipliers. We start by going over the rules.
We’ll use the ARRL 10 Meter contest as an example – but whichever contest you choose, a good
understanding of the rules and how you’ll work within those rules to maximize your total score.
Starting with the Date and Time of the contest: (the actual rule will start with the rule paragraph
from the ARRL site – my comments will follow)
2. Date and Contest Period: Second full weekend of December. Starts 0000 UTC Saturday; ends
2359 UTC Sunday (December 10 - 11, 2011).
Since (on the east coast) we currently have a 5 hour shift from UTC, the contest begins for us at
1900 on Friday and ends at 1859 on Sunday. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to my
shack to do the final preparations for the contest, and an hour or two prior to the actual start of
the contest, you can find stations that are making the contest exchange. Any contacts you make
before the contest won’t be counted, so make sure your clocks are set correctly and you’ve made
the proper UTC/EST/EDT adjustment.
2.1. All stations operate no more than 36 hours out of the 48-hour period.
This won’t be much of a problem during the 10 meter contest as during the 48 hours of the
contest, finding 10 meters open for 36 of them will be a stretch. What you want to do is
maximize your “butt-in-chair” time (BIC). It should go without saying that you want your “ontime” to coincide with when the band is open. Knowing that 10 meters is basically day-light
band, you should plan your operating time for just before sunrise to just after sunset. Of course,
if conditions allow, keep operating as late as you can.
For multi-band contests, figure out which bands will give you the best results and arrange your
operating time accordingly. So, have a comfortable chair and operating position, plan your
meals, sleep and off times accordingly, and be ready to put as much BIC time in as you can.
2.2. Listening time counts as operating time.
Although not specifically spelled out, generally any space in time between two contacts greater
than 30 minutes is considered “off time.”
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The entry category you select, decides who you'll be competing against. Of course, your ultimate
competition is yourself. You should try to set a goal, then work to achieve it. If you've done the
contest before, then improvement should be your goal. If you haven't done it, then set a realistic
target (number of QSO's, butt-in-chair time, total score, etc.) for yourself.
Recently, the ARRL has been trying to discourage the use of spotting networks (while some
other groups, such as the CQ magazine contests are very encouraging of them). If you decide to
use a spotting network, you will be entered as a multi-op station. If you don't then you'll be a
single-op. In the last few hours (or minutes) of the contest, it is always very tempting to use a
spotting network to pull in the one reclusive multiplier. If you decide to operate un-assisted (no
spotting network), and you make even one assisted contact, then your entire log needs to be
submitted as assisted (multi-op). The same goes for power; moving your power up to 10 watts,
just for a single contact, means you are no longer a QRP station. Making just one phone contact
means you are now a mixed category.
There are three basic contest strategies: Run, S&P, and a mix. Running is when you grab a
frequency and sit on it, letting people come to you. Search and pounce (S&P) is when you jump
from frequency to frequency (and mode to mode) and work the people who are running. Many
operators mix the two, doing S&P for a few hours, then switching to running, then back to S&P
for the last few hours of the contest to pick up multipliers.
If you can hold a frequency, running will bring you the most QSOs. Unfortunately, it is rather
hard to hold a frequency unless you have an edge (directional antenna, amp, etc.). If you can run,
then there isn't a need for a spotting network, as other stations will be coming to you.
Newer contesters have an easier time doing S&P as it gives you the option of listening to a
contact several times, and getting the exchange in the log before actually making the contact.
Spotting networks are very helpful when doing S&P as they usually identify new stations,
needed multipliers, and worked stations (dupes). Speaking of logs - I usually recommend
GenLog for the new contesters as it is very easy and intuitive, but its simplicity is mostly because
it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles. For a free program that has all the bells and whistles
(but takes some effort to learn and use) I recommend the N1MM logger. It will do CAT control
of your rig, send both CW and Voice (special equipment required), connect to a telnet spotting
network, and just about everything else you need in a contest (except keep your coffee cup
filled). If you'd like to try N1MM, download it today and start playing with it sooner rather than
later. (http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/)
Doing a mix between running and S&P might work for you. Again, use of a spotting network is
helpful during your S&P. If you find an open frequency, make a run out of it. During the
November Sweepstakes, I was able to run for about an hour on 80 meters and I made 100+
contacts during that hour (compared to 20-ish per hour for S&P on all the other bands).
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The next thing you need to decide (regardless of being single or Multi-op) is your power level.
I'll assume that if you have an amp, you'll use it, so I'll limit my comments between QRP and
Low Power.
QRP: If you have a good antenna (tri-band or mono-band beam) you may want to try QRP
contesting. 5 watts with a 9 dBd gain on the antenna is the same as 40 watts off a dipole, plus
you get the front to back/side attenuations that you don't have with a dipole, meaning that you
are less than a single S-unit difference from someone with a dipole. Only a few operators choose
to work QRP (so your competition is very limited) and they've told me that it's all in the timing
of when you make your call. Last year there were only 3 QRP stations operating in Maryland and
the highest scorer made 143 QSOs. The other two made 10 and 12 Q's each.
Low-Power: This is the category that most new contesters will use. The competition is stiff, but
since you are competing against your own goals, then this shouldn't be a problem.
Lastly, you need to decide (when the contest rules allow multiple modes) if you are going to
operate CW, Phone, or mixed. CW: CW is the great equalizer. A CQ signal will punch through a
pile-up and even a QRP station can be heard along-side the big-guns. With the proliferation of
free CW software (HRD for example), CW is a mode that is open to the masses. There are a
couple of things you can do to make a CW contact. The first is to be patient. Sooner or later there
will be a lull in the pile-up and you can pop your signal in then. The second is to jot down the
frequency for the pile-up and come back to it later. The third (and this seems to work for me) is
to tune about 50Hz higher than everyone else. Most of the pile-up will be zero-beat with each
other, so being just a little off key will make your signal more noticeable. If you want to operate
CW in a contest, be sure to have good filters on your rig. You want at least 500Hz, and narrower
is better. I usually use 200Hz and sometime take it down to 50Hz.
Phone: A lot of people do phone, for obvious reasons. The same principles as operating CW
apply. To tune slightly off frequency, start by tuning the other station in clearly, then adjust your
knob so the other person sounds slightly low (but still readable). This will make you sound
slightly high to the other person.
Mixed: This is your chance to play in both worlds, and since you can usually (check the rules)
work each station once per mode, and your multipliers count once per mode, you have access to
a lot more potential Q's during the contest.
3. Entry Categories:
3.1. Single Operator (use of spotting networks is NOT PERMITTED):
3.1.1. QRP (5 watts or less)
3.1.1.1. Mixed Mode (Phone and CW)
3.1.1.2. Phone only
3.1.1.3. CW only
3.1.2. Low Power (150 watts or less)
3.1.2.1. Mixed Mode (Phone and CW)
3.1.2.2. Phone only
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3.1.2.3. CW only
3.1.3. High Power (1500 watts or less or your
country's maximum power limit, whichever is less)
3.1.3.1. Mixed Mode (Phone and CW).
3.1.3.2. Phone only.
3.1.3.3. CW only.
3.2. Single Operator stations that use spotting networks will
be entered in the Multi-operator, Single Transmitter category.
3.3. Multi-operator, Single Transmitter (use of spotting
networks is permitted):
3.3.1. Low Power (150 watts or less)
3.3.2. High Power (1500 watts or less or your
country's maximum power limit, whichever is less)
3.3.3. Includes single operators using spotting
networks.
3.3.4. This category is mixed-mode only.
4. Contest Exchange:
4.1. W/VE stations (including Hawaii and Alaska) send RS(T) and state or province (District of
Columbia stations send signal report and DC).
4.2. DX stations (including KH2, KP4, etc) send RS(T) & sequential serial number starting with
001.
4.3. Mexican stations transmit RS(T) and their state.
4.4. Maritime mobile stations send RS(T) and ITU Region (R1, R2 or R3).
Your exchange to other stations is pretty straightforward. You'll send a signal report and your
state. Many ARRL contests want you to send your ARRL section (which for us is Maryland-DC
- abbreviated MDC), but for this contest they want your State, so Maryland or MD. DC is a
separate multiplier. Thus, you would send: on phone "59 Maryland," and on CW "5NN MD."
Note that the number nine is shortened to the letter N for CW. The number 1 might be shortened
to the letter “A.” Speaking of shortened stuff - unlike during a rag-chew QSO, a contest QSO is
short and rapid. You want to provide the minimum amount of information in the shortest period
of time. There is no need to repeat anything unless the other station requests a repeat. Since
everyone is a 59 or 5NN, you may be asked to repeat your State. Under this circumstance it is
allowable to repeat, for example, "Maryland Maryland Mike Delta."
You also need to know what you can expect to hear from other stations. What you can expect
from other States, DX, Canadian, and Mexican station is a bit different. U.S. stations will be
sending you a signal report (59/5NN) and their State. Canadian stations will be sending you a
signal report and their province. Mexican stations will be sending you a signal report and their
state. A full list of Canadian Provinces and Mexican States is included in the full rules referenced
above.
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Here are a few examples of how a contest exchange would go (using the 10-meter contest as a
reference):
You are calling CQ (Running a frequency):
YOU: CQ 10 Meter CQ K3TAM Contest
Them: AA6MZ
YOU: AA6MZ 59 Maryland
Them: TU 59 California
YOU: Thanks QRZ K3TAM
(total exchange under 10 seconds)
The same exchange on CW (repeat requested):
YOU: CQ K3TAM CQ TEST
Them: AA6MZ
YOU: AA6MZ 5NN MD
Them: ST?
YOU: MD MD MD
Them: K3TAM R 5NN CA
YOU: TU QRZ K3TAM TEST
(total exchange about 35 seconds at 20 WPM - even with the repeat)
Note: if you are in Search and Pounce mode - just reverse the calls above.
Some exchanges you'll receive from Non-U.S. stations.
>From DX:
EA3FAB: 59 86
DL2JJB: 5NN 488
>From Canada/Mexico:
VE3INI: 59 QC (Quebec)
XE3OLN: 5NN JAL (Jalisco)
If in doubt, listen for a bit before jumping in. Most experienced contesters are very tolerant of
inexperienced operators and will slow their CW speed down to match yours or will talk you
through a contact. Don't be afraid to make a mistake - we've all been there - just be sure to learn
from your mistakes.
Every contest has two components. First, a way to score points; second a way of multiplying
those points for a final score.
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For the 10 meter contest,
5. Scoring:
5.1. QSO points:
5.1.1. Two points for each complete two-way phone QSO.
5.1.2. Four points for each two-way CW QSO.
5.2. Multipliers: (counted once on phone and once on CW).
5.2.1. Each US state and the District of Columbia.
5.2.2. Canada: 14 provinces - See Appendix A at bottom for complete list.
5.2.3. Mexico: 32 states - see Appendix B at bottom for complete list.
5.2.4. DXCC countries (except US, Canada and Mexico).
5.2.4.1. KH6 and KL7 participate and count as US states, not DXCC Entities.
5.2.5. ITU regions (maritime mobiles only).
5.3. Final Score: Multiply QSO points by total multipliers (the sum of states/VE
provinces/Mexican states/DXCC countries/ITU regions per mode).
This is pretty straightforward, and if you're using a software logging program, it will do all the
work for you. Phone is worth 2 points for every QSO and CW is worth 4 points. Phone is
certainly more popular than CW, but with all the programs that are available to work CW, it is a
mode that is really open to everyone. Monday's e-mail discussed Entry categories, and if it fits in
your strategy, I'd encourage you to try some phone and some CW (Mixed category).
Multipliers are counted once per mode, so you could work Spain on CW and on Phone and earn
6 points for the contacts (4 on CW, 2 on phone) and 2 multipliers. If you just work them on
phone you'll earn 2 points and 1 multiplier. See where I'm going with this?
In the next installment, I'll discuss how to submit your log to the ARRL and toss in a few general
tips for contest operations. I'm hoping you're enjoying the effort so far.
As a wise man once said – the job isn’t over until the paperwork is done.
8.1. All logs generated by computer must be submitted as an ASCII text file in the Cabrillo file
format. Paper printouts of the electronic file are not acceptable substitutes.
8.2. Hand-written paper logs are acceptable submissions.
8.3. All entries must be emailed or postmarked by 0000 UTC Wednesday, January 11, 2012.
8.4. Email entries only to: 10meter@arrl.org. Cabrillo log files require exchange sent, category
entered, power, and ARRL/RAC section, as defined in the General Rules for All ARRL
Contests.
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8.5. Computer-generated logs not in Cabrillo file format may be designated as check logs.
8.6. Paper entries should be mailed to 10 Meter Contest, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT
06111.
8.7. Paper entries must be submitted on current ARRL entry forms or an acceptable facsimile.
8.7.1. Forms are available by downloading the 10 Meter Contest Summary Sheet and the 10
Meter Contest Log Sheet.
8.7.2. Forms are available for an SASE sent to the Contest Branch.
8.8. Logs may be submitted via the web applet at www.b4h.net/cabforms
8.9. See "General Rules for All ARRL Contests" at http://www.arrl.org/general-rules-for-all-arrlcontests and "General Rules for ARRL Contests on bands below 30 MHz (HF)" at
http://www.arrl.org/general-rules-for-arrl-contests-below-30-mhz
It is an unfortunate truism that many people who participate in a contest, from the big guns with
big scores to the casual operator who just makes a few contacts, either forget or just don’t submit
their logs. If you work a contest, even if you just make 5 or 10 contacts, it is considered good
form to submit your log. And why wouldn’t you send it in after you’ve done the work.
Procrastination is the enemy of contesters everywhere, so I make a point of sending in my log
within an hour or two of finishing the contest. If you do tend towards procrastination, logs are
due within a month of this contest. If operating a different contest, check the rules – some logs
are due much earlier than a month afterwards (November Sweepstakes has a 2-week
requirement).
Every contest logging program will prepare your log, in the appropriate Cabrillo format, for you.
If you are using a non-contest logging program, you can output either a CSV file or an ADIF file
and manipulate it in MS-Excel to prepare a Cabrillo file. You can get the header information and
the format for the file at www.b4h.net/cabforms.
You can also still submit your log via paper. Log sheets and summary pages are available for
download using the links in the rules.
As always, if you need help, I’m an e-mail away and will be happy to sit-down with you and
help you put everything together for submittal.
Now for some general advice on contesting:
- Know your set-up. Have your keyboard and mouse easily accessible from the operating
position, especially if you are using CAT controls through your contest logging program.
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- Know your radio. You should be able to operate the filters, modes, and adjust your frequencies
(keeping within the limits of your license) blindfolded. Know the nuances of your rig (how far
can I move in frequency before I have to re-tune, etc.). Know your antenna (if using a dipole, is
it aligned N/S or E/W – if a beam, what is your beam-width, F/S & F/B ratios – for any antenna,
where is it resonant without a tuner (CW or Phone band)).
- Have a comfortable operating position. You’ll be sitting there for awhile. A comfortable chair
and ergonomic set-up of your station will make the time there easier and increase your Butt-inChair time. That said, be sure to take a break once in a while, stand-up and stretch, get the kinks
out, and don’t forget bathroom breaks.
- Practice before the contest – check out your macros to be sure they actually work as you expect
them to. About an hour before the contest starts, you’ll hear a lot of stations checking things out
– make a contact with one or two of them and ask them to give you a report on your signal. Of
course, return the courtesy. The time to find and fix a problem is before the contest starts, not
afterwards. Check your logging program: make sure you understand how to enter a contact, the
limitations of the program, enter a few test entries (make sure to delete them before the contest),
and prepare a Cabrillo file. Again, the time to learn your logging program is before the contest
starts – not OJT.
- Have a notepad and pencil at the ready. Jot down any corrections that you want to make to your
system (either during a break or after the contest). Jot down frequencies and calls of stations with
pile-ups that you want to come back to later.
- Have a goal and a plan – Set a number of hours you will work the contest, set a number of
QSOs you want to make – but be flexible with it. The same with a plan – figure out when you
want to operate, whether you’ll be running a frequency or in Search and Pounce mode, if you’ll
operate CW, Phone, or mixed. Again, your plan should be a guideline – be flexible – the overall
goal is to come out of the contest with the best score you can, change your plans as necessary if
those changes will increase your score.
What can you expect from a contest. If you operate CW, your code speed will increase
dramatically. You’ll begin to hear words instead of individual letters (you’ll recognize your call
at virtually any speed, you’ll be able to hear the report and enter it without having to interpret
each character). You may start by using a computer program to read for you, but you’ll end up
just using the computer to verify what you heard. On phone (and on CW) you’ll learn how to
break-in to a pile-up – when to time your call perfectly. At the beginning of the contest you may
wait for minutes to be recognized, by the end of the contest you will be getting recognized on
your first or second call. You will also learn when to move on from a pile-up and come back to it
later. You will become intimately familiar with propagation – especially during a single-band
contest.
I’m sure there are a lot of other things that could be said about contesting. I hope that this has
stimulated interest in contesting.
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